Golf ball package

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to sealed flexible plastic packages for golf balls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Millions of golf balls are sold to consumers throughout the world every year. Most of these golf balls are sold in packaging consisting of rectangular cardboard boxes containing three golf balls. In some instances, the cardboard boxes may also contain a cut-away window sealed with cellophane or other plastic for viewing the golf balls in the box. Since it is a popular convention in the golf industry to sell golf balls by the dozen, four such packages of three golf balls are further combined, typically in an exterior package consisting of a rectangular cardboard box and a separate cardboard lid.

One problem associated with existing golf ball packages is that the rectangular-shaped cardboard boxes do not fit easily in the exterior pockets of some golf club bags. This is particularly problematic if the boxes are oriented with the longest side of the package in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bag, i.e., the direction in which golf club shafts are inserted into the interior of the golf club bag. In order to fit within exterior pockets of the golf club bag, the balls must often be removed from the cardboard packaging and placed in the pocket interior, or the packaging must be crushed to allow it to fit within the pocket interior. Another problem associated with existing golf ball packages is that they consume space within the exterior pockets of a golf club bag when only one or two balls are removed from the package, and the package is kept in the exterior pocket. Yet another problem associated with existing golf ball packages is that they allow the balls within the package to come into contact with one another during storage and shipment.

Accordingly, there is a need for a golf ball package that addresses one or more of the problems associated with the prior art packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a golf ball package of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exterior, top view of a top surface of a golf ball package of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exterior, side view of three connected golf ball packages of the present invention.

FIG. 4 an exterior, side view of a golf ball package of the present invention in use by a user.

FIG. 5 is an exterior, side view of a golf ball package of the present invention within an exterior pocket of a golf club bag shown in cross-sectional view.

FIG. 6 is an exterior, top view of the top surface of numerous connected golf ball packages of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method for removing a golf ball from the golf ball packages of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of additional methods for removing a golf ball from the golf ball packages of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a method for merchandising golf balls contained within the golf ball packages of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a display for merchandizing golf balls contained within the golf ball packages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described more fully below, the present invention is directed toward plastic golf ball packages. More specifically, the golf ball packages are sealed plastic reservoirs for containing golf balls.

The golf ball packages of the present invention may contain one or more golf balls within a single reservoir. In at least one embodiment, a golf ball package contains a single golf ball. In another embodiment, one or more individual golf ball packages may be connected.

The golf ball packages as described herein include a golf ball reservoir, and a closure that maintains a golf ball in the reservoir when the golf ball package is sealed. The reservoir is generally a cup-shaped or cylindrical cavity defined by a wall and a bottom, with an opening sufficient to allow placement of a golf ball within the cavity. The opening, i.e., the open end of the golf ball reservoir, is defined by the wall. At the reservoir opening, the wall may contain features for connecting one or more adjacent golf ball packages. Such features include a flange extending outward from the wall. In such configuration, the flange may be shared between two adjacent golf ball packages. Flanges shared between one or more connected golf ball packages can serve the additional purpose of offsetting the adjacent golf ball packages, enabling the connected golf ball packages, as a whole, to have some flexibility through deformation of the shared flange(s). The flange between any two adjacent and connected golf ball packages may be scored, perforated, or contain other features that allow a user of the package to separate the two golf ball packages from one another, such as by bending the flange between two packages to break the flange material at the score line or perforation.

The reservoir may take on any number of three-dimensional shapes. In addition, the wall of the reservoir may be straight or sloped. In one embodiment, the shape of the reservoir is tailored, at least in part, to the general contour of a golf ball surface to prevent movement of one or more golf ball(s) located in the reservoir. The reservoir may also contain indexing elements to maintain a desired orientation of the golf ball, while the golf ball is located in the reservoir. In one embodiment, one or more surfaces of the reservoir may be scored, perforated, or contain other features that allow a user of the package to rupture the reservoir, such as by deforming the reservoir material at the score line or perforation.

The reservoir can be constructed of many types of polymeric materials known in the art of packaging. In one embodiment, the reservoir is comprised of a thermoformable polymeric material. In one embodiment, the reservoir is comprised of a polymeric material that is flexible enough to allow the reservoir to be deformed by a user's hand. In one embodiment, the reservoir is comprised of a polymeric material that is sufficiently transparent to allow a user to view the contents of the reservoir.

The flange connected to a reservoir wall can be constructed of many types of polymeric materials known in the art of packaging. Indeed, in one embodiment, the flange may simply be an extension of the wall itself, and thus be comprised of the same material as the reservoir. In one embodiment, the polymeric material forming the flange has sufficient flexibility to allow the golf ball package, or multiple connected adjacent golf ball packages, to bend about the circumference of a golf club bag as shown and described more fully with respect to FIG. 5 below. In one embodiment, the polymeric material forming the flange is sufficiently transparent to allow a user to view the contents of the reservoir.

A closure is sealed to the open end of the reservoir along at least a portion of the end of the reservoir wall and/or flange. The closure may be sealed in any manner known in the art, such as mechanically, chemically (adhesives), thermally, ultrasonically, or through combinations thereof. The closure may be constructed of a thin film of material. In one embodiment, the closure is constructed of a multi-layered film. The closure material may be comprised of one or more materials, including, but not limited to polymeric materials, metallic materials, or metallized foils, and the like. In one embodiment, the closure is comprised of the same material as the reservoir. The closure need not be a continuous sheet of material, and may contain openings, so long as the function of the closure, i.e., maintaining the golf ball in the reservoir, can be achieved. In one embodiment, the closure is a multi-layered, continuous sheet of material that is capable of receiving printing or labeling for use in marketing and identifying the golf ball in the golf ball package. In one embodiment, one or more surfaces of the closure may contain features, such as scoring, perforations, or the like, to control separation of the closure material, and thus opening of the golf ball package, along such score lines or perforations.

The present invention also includes methods for utilizing the golf ball packages described herein. In some embodiments, methods are provided for removing a golf ball from a golf ball package as described herein. In other embodiments, methods are provided for merchandizing golf balls in the golf ball packages described herein.

In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and exerting pressure on the golf ball reservoir to force a golf ball in the reservoir through the closure. In such embodiment, the pressure exerted on the golf ball reservoir may also act against the golf ball to urge it against an interior surface of the closure, creating a rupture in the closure. In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and exerting pressure on the golf ball reservoir to force a golf ball in the package to rupture the reservoir. In such embodiment, the pressure exerted on the golf ball reservoir may also act against the golf ball to urge it against an interior surface of the reservoir, creating a rupture in the reservoir.

In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and exerting pressure on the golf ball reservoir to force rupturing of the closure by pressure within the reservoir, so that a golf ball in the reservoir can be removed from the reservoir. In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and exerting pressure on the golf ball reservoir to force rupturing of the reservoir by pressure within the reservoir, so that a golf ball in the reservoir can be removed from the reservoir.

In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and separating a closure from the open end of the reservoir, so that a golf ball in the reservoir can be removed from the reservoir. In one embodiment, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package includes a user holding a golf ball package in one or more hands and peeling a closure from the open end of the reservoir, so that a golf ball in the reservoir can be removed from the reservoir.

Golf balls in the golf ball packaging described herein may also be merchandized differently from known methods of merchandizing golf balls. Rather than displaying stacks of boxes of golf balls, with the golf balls usually packaged by the dozen, as is the current custom for merchandizing golf balls, a number of golf balls in connected golf ball packages can comprise a display. In one embodiment, the display comprises several dozen connected golf ball packages. In such a display, for example a large roll of connected golf ball packages wound around a core or reel, a user can disconnect the number of golf ball packages desired for purchase. In one embodiment, a method of merchandizing a golf ball includes a user disconnecting a golf ball package from a display of connected golf ball packages. In one embodiment, a method of merchandizing a golf ball includes a user disconnecting a golf ball package from a display of connected golf ball packages wound around a reel or core.

The invention will now be described in relation to the Figures. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, side view of a golf ball package in accordance with the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, golf ball package 1 is comprised of a wall 10 and bottom 15 that define a cup-shaped reservoir 20 that is capable of containing a golf ball 30. Although one golf ball 30 is visible in FIG. 1, this figure may also represent a transverse cross-sectional view of an elongated reservoir 20 capable of containing multiple golf balls which are not visible because they are obscured from view by the golf ball 30 shown. Golf ball package 1 further comprises a closure 50 which is sealed to flange 40 extending from wall 10 and around at least a portion of the open end of the reservoir 20. As shown, closure 50 is in the form of a thin film, preferably a multi-layered and printable transparent polymeric film.

FIG. 2 is an exterior top view of a top surface of a golf ball package in accordance with the present invention, wherein the closure has been removed. With reference to FIG. 2, flange 40 in this embodiment extends entirely around open end of reservoir 25, giving the golf ball package a generally square-shaped top surface. A closure such as a thin film (not shown) can be sealed along at least a portion of the top surface of flange 40 to maintain a golf ball in the reservoir 20.

FIG. 3 is an exterior side view of three connected golf ball packages of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, flanges 40 extend between each of three adjacent golf ball packages 1, creating a connection between them. A perforation (not shown) of the top surface of flange 40 between each golf ball package 1 along a line at position 45 and in a direction normal to the side view shown in FIG. 3, allows each golf ball package to be separated from the others. By bending of a flange 40 along the perforation line at position 45, the flange 40 connecting two adjacent golf ball packages can be broken and the adjacent golf ball packages can be separated.

FIG. 4 is an exterior side view of a golf ball package of the present invention, with a user extracting a ball from the reservoir. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the reservoir comprises a flexible polymeric material. With reference to FIG. 4, a user's hand 25 exerts pressure on the flexible bottom surface 15 of a golf ball package to push a golf ball 30 in the reservoir upwards and through a thin film closure 50 of the golf ball package. In this regard, one or more surfaces of the closure may itself be scored or perforated to control separation of the closure material along such score lines or perforations.

FIG. 5 is an exterior, side view of a golf ball package of the present invention within an approximated exterior pocket of a golf club bag shown in cross-sectional view. With reference to FIG. 5, an exterior pocket of a golf club bag 100 is approximated in cross-sectional view, containing at least three connected golf ball packages 1 of the present invention. Golf club bag 100 is generally a cylinder, shown in FIG. 5 in cross-sectional view. Exterior wall 110 and interior wall 120 of golf club bag 100 define an exterior pocket space 130, as well as a golf club reservoir 140 for receiving golf clubs inserted into cylindrical golf club bag 100 in an axial direction. As shown in FIG. 5, multiple connected golf ball packages—in the case shown, at least three connected golf ball packages—can be placed into the exterior pocket 130, and oriented around the circumference of the golf club reservoir 140 of the golf club bag 100. A flexible flange 40 that connects and offsets the golf ball packages 1 allows the connected package to bend around the curvature of golf club reservoir 140 of the golf club bag 100, without the need to crush the packaging or deform the golf club bag 100.

FIG. 6 is an exterior, top view of the top surface of numerous connected golf ball packages of the present invention, and also illustrates another mode of extracting a ball from a golf ball reservoir. With reference to FIG. 6, twelve separate golf ball packages are connected by flanges 40 on each golf ball package. Each golf ball package can be separated from adjacent connected golf ball packages along perforation lines 60 in flange 40. In addition, thin film closure 50 contains perforations 70 that match perforation lines 60, to allow separation of adjacent golf ball packages while maintaining the integrity of each sealed closure for each golf ball package. Also as shown in FIG. 6, closure 50 for each golf ball package can be peeled back by a user to enable the user to extract a golf ball from the open end of an individual golf ball package.

FIGS. 7 through 9 are block diagrams illustrating embodiments of methods of utilizing the golf ball packages of the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are block diagrams of several methods for removing a golf ball from the golf ball packages of the present invention. Prior to such methods for removing a golf ball from a package, a user may disconnect a golf ball package from adjacent connected packages. With reference to FIG. 7, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package described herein includes grasping of the golf ball package by a user in one hand 210, such as by grasping the plastic reservoir of a golf ball package. Using another hand, the user can grasp the closure material 220, such as a thin film plastic sheet. After grasping the closure material, the user can peel the closure material back and away from the reservoir 230, resulting in either breaking of the closure seal or tearing of the closure material itself. This opens the golf ball package reservoir, and the golf ball can be removed from the reservoir 240.

With reference to FIG. 8, a method of removing a golf ball from a golf ball package described herein includes grasping of the golf ball package by a user in one or more hands 310, such as by grasping the flexible plastic reservoir of a golf ball package. Using at least one hand, the user can apply pressure to the flexible plastic reservoir 320 by tightening his grip on the reservoir. By applying pressure to the flexible plastic reservoir, pressure can build up in the sealed plastic reservoir, which can create rupturing of the golf ball reservoir 330, or alternatively, rupturing of the closure material 350. As yet another alternative, by applying pressure to the flexible plastic reservoir, the plastic reservoir can be deformed to allow a force to be applied directly to a golf ball in the reservoir, which in turn is urged against an interior surface of the closure and/or reservoir, resulting in rupturing of the closure and/or reservoir 340. Once the reservoir and/or closure have been ruptured, the golf ball can be removed from the reservoir 360, such as by further squeezing of the reservoir by the user.

The methods of the present invention for merchandizing golf balls will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a method for merchandizing golf balls contained within the golf ball packages of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 9, a user of a display of golf balls can identify the number of golf balls desired for purchase 410. The display of golf balls to be sold may be as shown in FIG. 10. The display 500 includes a roll 510 of at least several dozen connected golf ball packages 1 mounted on a floor stand 520. From the display of connected golf ball packages, a user can grasp at least one golf ball package to be removed from the display 420. By bending a flange between connected adjacent golf ball packages, a user can disconnect the selected golf ball package or packages from the display 430. By way of example only, a user can tear the flange between adjacent connected golf ball packages along a perforation line in such flange, resulting in separation of the selected golf ball package from any other adjacent connected golf ball packages.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge in the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiment described hereinabove is further intended to explain modes for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications required by their particular applications or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternate embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 

1. A package comprising: a golf ball reservoir defined by at least one wall and a bottom, said wall having a flange at one end; a golf ball disposed within said golf ball reservoir; a golf ball reservoir closure connected to at least a portion of said flange for maintaining said golf ball within said golf ball reservoir.
 2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir is comprised of a polymeric material.
 3. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir is comprised of a material that is transparent enough to allow a user to read markings on said golf ball.
 4. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir is comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
 5. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein golf ball reservoir closure is comprised of a thin film polymeric material.
 6. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange is comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
 7. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange connects said golf ball reservoir to another golf ball reservoir.
 8. A package comprising: a cavity for confining a golf ball, said cavity having an open end and a closed end, said cavity defined by at least one wall and a bottom at said closed end, said wall having a flange at said open end of said cavity; a cavity closure connected to at least a portion of said flange for enclosing at least a portion of said open end of said cavity.
 9. A package as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flange connects said cavity for confining a golf ball to another cavity for confining a golf ball.
 10. A package as claimed in claim 9, wherein said flange that connects said cavity for confining a golf ball to another cavity for confining a golf ball contains a score line to enable separation of said golf ball cavities by breaking said flange along said score line.
 11. A package as claimed in claim 9, wherein said flange that connects said cavity for confining a golf ball to another cavity for confining a golf ball contains perforations to enable separation of said golf ball cavities by breaking said flange along said perforations line.
 12. A package as claimed in claim 8, wherein cavity for confining a golf ball contains a golf ball.
 13. A package as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said cavities for confining a golf ball contains a golf ball.
 14. A package comprising: at least two adjacent cavities for confining at least one golf ball in each cavity, each of said cavities having an open end and a closed end, and each of said cavities defined by at least one wall and a bottom at each said closed end, and each of said walls having a flange at said open end of each said cavity, at least a portion of said flange is common to a wall of each said cavity; a separate cavity closure for each said cavity in contact with at least a portion of said flange for each said cavity for enclosing at least a portion of said open end of each said cavity.
 15. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said cavities for confining a golf ball contains a golf ball.
 16. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flange that connects each said cavity to another cavity contains a score line to enable separation of said golf ball cavities by breaking said flange along said score line.
 17. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flange that connects each said cavity to another cavity contains a perforation to enable separation of said golf ball cavities by breaking said flange along said perforation.
 18. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cavities are comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
 19. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said cavity closure is comprised of a thin film polymeric material.
 20. A package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flange is comprised of a flexible polymeric material. 